Academic WorldQuest™

Academic WorldQuest™ tests players’ knowledge of current international politics, geography, global economics, history, and world cultures.

2025 ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST™

2025 ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST™ TOPICS

  • The United States and Foreign Languages

  • Space and National Security

  • Nontraditional Approaches to Foreign Policy

  • Music and Globalization

  • Indigenous Peacebuilding

  • Critical Minerals in Africa

  • Borders and Boundaries

  • Mexico: 2025 Focus Country

  • Great Decisions

  • Current Events

AWQ 2025 Timeline:

  • September-October: Organize a group of students and complete early registration forms

  • November-December: Schedule weekly practices with teams; monitor their studying with provided study guides

  • January-February: Teams continue to practice

  • March: Local (State) Competition. Winning team will continue to study for the National Competition

  • April: National Competition is held in Washington, D.C. with winning local team having trip to participate fully funded.

What is Academic WorldQuest™ (AWQ)?

  • AWQ is an academic competition for high schools, testing students’ knowledge of international events and current affairs.

  • The competition consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, including 10 sections of 10 questions.

How to Play:

  • Each school can field 2 teams of 5 players.

  • Teams compete by answering 10 rounds of 10 multiple-choice questions.

  • Participants prepare for the competition by studying an online study guide.

  • In the case of a tie, the competition can go into a tiebreaker round of 10 multiple-choice questions and then a sudden death round of five questions that require write-in answers.

WHY IS ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST™ IMPORTANT?

Academic WorldQuest works hand-in-hand with schools to inspire a love of global learning. While schools lay the foundation for learning, Academic WorldQuest builds upon this by immersing students in global topics through an exciting, team-based competition.

Academic WorldQuest offers a unique opportunity to expand knowledge of geography, history, and international issues in a way that complements and enriches traditional education. Our hope is that it helps students connect classroom lessons to the world around them and prepare them for the future.

WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN A TEAM?

ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST™ ACROSS THE NATION

  • Each year, World Affairs Councils around the United States host Academic WorldQuest competitions for high school students. The World Affairs Councils of America decides the 10 topics based on the most relevant global issues of that year.

  • Teams study and compete on a regional level for a chance to compete on the national level in Washington D.C. against other regional winners.

  • Approximately 4,000 students across the country participate in competitions hosted by over 40 local World Affairs Councils across the United States.

  • Winning teams are invited to represent their high school, city, and local council at the national competition, held in the spring each year in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC.

AWQ Rules and Regulations

  • Teams are not allowed to consult with the audience, wireless devices, cell phones, other teams, books, or written materials at any point during the competition.

    • Any team found by World Affairs Council judges, runners, or staff to be violating this rule will forfeit that round and a penalty of 20 points will automatically be deducted from that team’s score.​

  • If a team believes another team is cheating, they may tell a WAC representative. However, if the other team is not found to be in violation of any rules, the accusing team will forfeit two (2) points.

  • A team consists of four (4) players. Player substitutions are not allowed. A player can only use the bathroom during the break. If a player leaves at any other point during the rounds, he or she cannot return until after the break. ​

  • Parents, alternates, and other guests must remain “off the floor” at all times.

QUESTIONS?

Please contact us at contact@worldkentucky.org